Feature image credits: Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor, a cross-section of which is shown here, is one of two microreactors that will be tested by the U.S. Department of Energy. Westinghouse Electric Company. The race to meet the soaring energy demands of AI technologies and data centres is driving innovation at an unprecedented pace. One of the … Continue reading Energising the AI Era and Beyond with Nuclear Microreactors
03/20/2025 The [X-MAT] research team from the Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy, in collaboration with international partners, has made a significant breakthrough in the development of radiation-resistant materials for nuclear fusion reactors. Their latest study, published in Advanced Science (DOI: 10.1002/advs.202417659), challenges conventional high-entropy alloy (HEA) concept by demonstrating that reduced chemical complexity can still achieve … Continue reading Revolutionary Findings in Nonferrous Metallurgy for Fusion Technology
As researchers and enthusiasts of materials engineered for extreme environments, we are thrilled to share an exciting new advancement in the field of high-entropy ceramics (HECs). Our journey into the world of radiation-resistant materials has led us to examine the latest findings from a novel study: Probing the High-Entropy Concept Through the Irradiation Response of … Continue reading Probing the High-Entropy Concept Through the Irradiation Response of Near-Equimolar (CrNbTaTiW)C Ceramic Coatings
As multinational space programs progress towards establishing permanent human settlements beyond Earth, radiation shielding and damage continue to pose significant challenges. A fascinating recent paper discussing radiation shielding in the context of future nuclear-fission-powered Mars missions has been published in Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research. Bendoyro AC, Thomas LD, Cassibry J and Emrich W. … Continue reading Radiation shielding for nuclear-fission powered human-based Mars missions
I am happy to announce that the first public version of MATDPA is now available on GITHUB for public download. MATDPA is a collection of MATLAB scripts that I wrote to speed-up and automatize nuclear materials irradiation calculations. To install MATDPA in your machine (only Windows because Apple does not allow to run WINE anymore!), … Continue reading MATDPA: Integration of SRIM2013 into MATLAB for nuclear materials calculations
Congratulations to Professor Yanwen Zhang on her appointment as the next Canada Excellence Research Chair for the Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies at Queen's University. As long-standing collaborators, we are proud to see her continue developing leading the next materials science for extreme environments! The team at materialsatextremes.com wishes her all the … Continue reading Professor Yanwen Zhang to join Queen’s University as a Canada Excellence Research Chair
We are excited to share findings from our latest research on the potential use of MAX phases in nuclear reactors. MAX phases, known for their hexagonal-compact nanolayered crystal structure, high machinability, and chemical inertness, have long been considered promising materials for nuclear applications. However, our new paper sheds light on crucial aspects that must be … Continue reading Exploring the Stability of Ti-based MAX Phases in Extreme Nuclear Environments
Miniaturizing nuclear reactors offers a robust solution for generating reliable and efficient electricity, crucial for supporting human missions beyond Earth. Such miniturization is not at all an easy task. I have been pursuing research in this area since 2015, when we designed a ~ 3x3 metre-sized small nuclear reactor core for biological shielding optimization studies. … Continue reading Advancing microreactor materials technology: Next stop, the Moon!
I am glad to share with the community our newest paper on the fabrication of pure and bulk delta-phase Zirconium Hydride for use as moderators in microreactors. 50 days' free access here: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1hv1X_UwYx0wLC Hydride moderators are envisaged for use in nuclear reactors for neutron thermalization, i.e., to reduce the kinetic energy of fast-born neutrons. This … Continue reading Metal Hydrides will Enable Space Exploration
We investigate the radiation response of a hard refractory high entropy carbide (HEC): the (CrNbTaTiW)C. Comparison with the high entropy alloy (HEA) has shown the HEC outperforms the HEA under irradiation. Results suggest high-entropy ceramics can be alternative to HEAs in extreme environments. Available now at Acta Materialia (open access)! Do not forget to see … Continue reading Novel high entropy ceramics for extreme environments
Materials at Extremes 